Managing the Side Effects of Cancer and Cancer Treatment

The information provided here is meant to give you a general idea about each of the medications listed below. Only the most general side effects are included, so ask your doctor if you need to take any special precautions. Use each of these medications as recommended by your doctor, or according to the instructions provided. If you have further questions about usage or side effects, contact your doctor.

Medications may help to either prevent or reduce side effects of treatment, or to manage certain side effects once they occur. Since you can develop these symptoms from the treatment and/or from the cancer itself, it is essential that you discuss them with your doctor when you notice them, and ask if any of these medications are appropriate for you.

Medications to Help Manage Nausea and Vomiting

Antiemetics, are given to help treat nausea and vomiting, which may be caused by
chemotherapy,
radiation therapy,
surgery, or other aspects of cancer and its treatment.

Medications to Decrease Pain

To help manage pain, your doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You may also be prescribed corticosteroids or opioid pain relievers.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs are used to relieve pain and inflammation. You may experience pain and inflammation for a variety of reasons, such as:

Pain from cancer that has spread to your bones

Edema—fluid build up in cells caused by tumors or treatment

NSAIDs include the following:

COX -2 antagonists

Ibuprofen

Naproxen

Common side effects of NSAIDs include:

Stomach cramps, pain, or discomfort

Drowsiness

Lightheadedness

Headache

Heartburn, indigestion, nausea, or vomiting

Corticosteroids

Like NSAIDs, corticosteroids help to minimize inflammation and pain due to inflammation.

Corticosteroids include the following:

Dexamethasone

Prednisone

Common side effects of corticosteroids include:

Increased appetite

Indigestion

Nervousness or restlessness

Opioid Pain Relievers

Opioid pain relievers act on the central nervous system. These drugs can be very effective however, they must be used with care because of their side effects.
Addiction
is rare in those who use these medications appropriately for pain control. If you are going to take one of these drugs for a long period of time, your doctor will closely monitor you.

Opioid pain relievers include the following:

Fentanyl
transdermal patch

Hydrocodone

Methadone

Morphine

Oxycodone

Acetaminophen is often combined with an opioid analgesic to provide better pain relief than either medication used alone. And in some cases, lower doses of each medication are necessary to achieve pain relief. Examples of such drugs include the following:

Acetaminophen with hydrocodone

Acetaminophen with oxycodone

The most common side effects of opioid pain relievers include:

Lightheadedness

Drowsiness

Nausea or vomiting

Constipation—One medication
(methylnaltrexone) has been found helpful in rapidly relieving this side effect in most people taking opioids for pain.

Medications to Support Your Blood Cells

During cancer treatment, blood cells can be destroyed along with cancer cells. Medications given to treat this problem are called blood stem cell support drugs and include the following:

Epoetin helps your bone marrow to make new red blood cells, which help reduce the risk of anemia. The medication is quite effective, but it has a two-week delay between the injection and when your red blood cell count really starts to come back. It is not used as a “quick fix” for a low red blood cell count. A blood transfusion is usually performed if you need to recover your red blood cell count more quickly.

Oprelvekin is a platelet growth factor. Platelets help your blood clot, so very low counts can lead to serious bleeding. If your platelet counts fall below a specific level, you may be given transfusions.

Blood stem cell support drugs are given by injection in your doctor's office.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Treatment of pain. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/pain/treatment-of-pain. Updated April 2014. Accessed December 27, 2016.